The Minimalists

Joshua and T.K. talk about responsibilities that aren't ours to carry, the problem with ethical purity tests, 50 things one writer has stopped buying since becoming a minimalist, and much more.  Discussed in this episode: When does helping someone you love become taking responsibility for something that isn't yours to carry? (1:45)  Right Here, Right Now: Can you separate the product from the pers...

Joshua and T.K. speak with Luke Burgis about the identities hidden in our desires, the psychological problem with keeping things "just in case," why sentimental items can be so emotionally heavy, and much more. Discussed in this episode: How has being a father made Luke better? (1:58) Do the lightest objects carry the most weight? (3:51) How much of what we keep is tied to who we believe we are—or...

Joshua and T.K. talk about how minimalists might curate an intentional collection, what to do with antique clutter, their favorite black t-shirts, seven items minimalists avoid to keep their living rooms calm and clutter free, and more! Discussed in this episode: What's the difference between collecting and curating? (1:11)

Why are we so good at finding loopholes that let us keep the same behavio...

​​T.K. Coleman speaks with Zach Bush, MD, about why context matters more than content, why relationships are more important than possessions, how we learn to be dissatisfied, what disconnection from nature has to do with addiction and disease, how social media distorts our sense of enough, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What is antibiosis? (3:09) How did boxed apple juice compromise the...

Joshua and T.K. talk about irreversible decisions, how to simplify everything in your life in five weeks, downgrading your smartphone to a dumbphone, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What did Lao Tzu mean by "It is easier to carry an empty cup than one that is filled to the brim"?(0:44) How much weight should we give a decision based on how difficult it is to undo? (4:20) Give It Five Min...

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Joshua and T.K. speak with Mark Sisson about the health benefits of walking, ultra-high-networth minimalism, the most minimalist exercises, and much more! Discussed in this episode: What does the fitness industry get wrong about exercise? (2:48) How does Mark rate these 12 fitness activities? (11:01) If you woke up tomorrow ultra-wealthy, in what ways would you still be a minimalist? (32:30) Right...

Joshua and T.K. speak with Natasha Theresa about how subtraction can help us see what matters most, the pros and cons of Japanese floor sleeping, the power of a single question, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Is comfort a wonderful servant but a terrible master? (1:31) Can Japanese floor sleeping improve sleep and lower-back pain, and what should a beginner know about transitioning from...

Joshua and T.K. speak with Julia Raz about struggling to keep common areas clutter free, organizing your home by room, the difference between decluttering and eliminating, three signs you're emotionally drained from cleaning your home, and much more! Discussed in this episode: How have unrealistic expectations contributed to the clutter and stress in people's homes? (1:01) When one person in a hou...

Joshua and T.K. speak with writer Conner Habib about how the stories we consume shape our lives, esotericism, letting go of heirlooms, what to do with the junk you don't want to inherit from your parents, and more! Discussed in this episode: Whatever tracks you leave in the mud or the sand, the wind smooths them over. (1:17) Why does storytelling matter, and how do the stories we consume and creat...

Joshua and T.K. talk about inheriting clutter from hoarder parents, possessions we wish would disappear from our homes, how the spending habits of rich people are raising prices on everyday goods, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Does compassion without boundaries become captivity? (0:45) How can I escape my inherited clutter? (3:38) What's one item in your home you wish would disappear?...

Joshua and T.K. talk about surgical decluttering, when more is better than minimalism, our favorite minimalist furniture brands, a new 14-minute decluttering rule, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Is expectation premeditated disappointment? (6:07) When does minimalism stop solving the problem and start becoming the problem? (9:51) When is more better than minimalism? (21:01) Right Here, R...

Joshua and T.K. talk about some simple rules for a humble home, small tasks with large rewards, surprising things a minimalist might own, why clutter spreads throughout your home, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What is the cost of convenience? (0:41) Is there hidden value in doing the "menial" work we've been taught to pay someone else to do? (11:17) Right Here, Right Now: The How to Le...

Joshua, T.K., and Ryan talk about embracing minimalism after escaping from an abusive family, some of their favorite non-minimalist books, Joshua's new How to Let Go Tour, and much more. Discussed in this episode: If intelligence is getting what you want, is wisdom wanting what's worth getting in the first place? (2:16) How can I tell the difference between wisdom and fear, especially after escapi...

The Minimalist speak with author Jon Acuff about whether procrastination is a type of hoarding, the difference between rest and hesitation, small actions that break the procrastination cycle, a popular decluttering rule that backfired on one of our listeners, and more! Discussed in this episode: What is "strategic apathy?" (2:06) Is procrastination just another form of hoarding? (6:23) Why do so m...

The Minimalists talk about setting down burdens that exhaust us, why it's so difficult to ask for help, the scientific benefits of infrared saunas, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What happens when the person everyone depends on is the one who falls apart? (4:48) Where do you struggle to ask for help? (26:20) Right Here, Right Now: Very, Very Simple in print, and Clutter Counseling with...

The Minimalists talk about the trap of productivity, the point at which optimization makes your life worse, when purchasing quality goods becomes an extravagance, seven minimalist rules that will help you eliminate your email clutter, and much more.  Discussed in this episode: Don't you hate when people waste your time? (0:48) How can I escape my addiction to optimization? (6:08) At what point doe...

The Minimalists talk about everyday things that turn into clutter, areas in your home that become messy quickly, one question to ask before buying new clothes, 15 useful tips for using your phone less, and more. Discussed in this episode: Is every item you own something you eventually have to organize? (7:22) Where do minimalists actually store all the everyday stuff that usually ends up covering...

The Minimalists speak with behavior expert Dr. John Demartini about loved ones who criticize your minimalist lifestyle, ways to reconcile the tension between simplicity and luxury goods, how our consumption patterns shape our identities, whether good and evil exist, and much more. Discussed in this episode: What is meant by Charles Bukowski's assertion that we are reduced to ashes by our purpose a...

The Minimalists talk about what to do with sacred things that feel like clutter, which minimalist brands work well for home furniture, how to simplify everything in five weeks, how clutter is harming your health (and how to fix it), and more. Discussed in this episode: Why are people constantly angered by trivial things but indifferent to major matters like totally wasting their lives? (00:54) How...

The Minimalists talk with author and speaker Kute Blackson about quiet luxury, letting go of stigmas, the difference between surrendering and giving up, the requirements of optimism, and more. Discussed in this episode: How should I handle the assumptions and stigma I've encountered since embracing a simpler, more comfortable style of dress? (3:50) What's the difference between surrendering and gi...

The Minimalists talk about letting go of sentimental items you rarely use, some of the things we dislike owning, sustainable products for your home, six tiny habits that prevent a messy home, and more. Discussed in this episode: How can I part with my father's prized possession that I rarely use? (4:05) Is there anything you own that you dislike owning? (14:27) Right Here, Right Now: Play the 30-D...

The Minimalists talk about dropping everything for a fresh start, why one big change often leads to several more, a handful of questions to ask before buying anything, what we'd get rid of first if we had two hours to declutter your house, and more. Discussed in this episode: What should I do if I'm torn between staying in the life I've rebuilt or starting over somewhere new for a fresh start? (11...

The Minimalists talk about the difficulties of podcasting, how our love for minimalism has changed over the years, what we dislike about decluttering, how to let go incrementally, and more. Discussed in this episode: A wise kid asks: Do you love minimalism? (4:16) What do you love about minimalism? What do you hate about minimalism? (17:21) Right Here, Right Now: Weekly writing tips from the How t...

The Minimalists discuss the passing of Joshua's brother, Jerome, and they talk about confronting loss, the difficult road to acceptance, the difference between processing and complaining, finding meaning in tragedy, and much, much more. Contribute to the GoFundMe for Jerome's family . Discussed in this episode: Is it better to confront loss with replacement or acceptance? (00:57) What's the differ...